Truck bolster



M. H. MARTIN TRUCK BOLSTER April 15,1930.

Filed Dec. 12, 1928 EEEH 1.. fi

Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARK H. MARTIN, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BIRDSBORO STEEL FOUNDRY & MACHINE COMPANY, OF BIRDSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- 'IION OF PENNSYLVANIA TRUCK BOLS'IER Application filed December 12, 1928.

My invention relates to truck bolsters and has particular relation to truck bolsters of the built-up type.

The general object of my invention is to 5 provide a novel construction of means whereby the cost of manufacturing truck bolsters of the above character may be greatly reduced. Broadly stated, this object is accomplished by providing a single casting including a large number of members heretofore provided as separate members.

More specifically it is an object of my invention to provide a built-up truck bolster of novel construction wherein the compression member, center plate, center strut, side bearing seats and end column guide castings are formed integrally with each other.

To these and other ends the invention comprises the construction which is described in 0 the specification set forth particularly in the claims and shown in the drawings wherein,--

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a portion of a truck bolster embodying the invention Fig. 2 is a View in top plan of the portion of the bolster shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken 33 on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical longitudinal section showing a modification of the end casting shown in Fig. 1 and of the means for supporting the casting and the bolster.

Referring to the drawing, the compression member 1, which is of channel shape in cross section, center plate 2, center strut or brace 3, side bearing seat braces 4, side bearing seats 5, and end column guide castings which comprise side walls 6 are connected together integrally, that is, they are embodied in a single casting. The center plate 2, the top side of the lower bearing portion of which is flush with the top side of the compression member 1, and the strut or brace 3 have an opening 7 formed therein for receiving and holding a king pin (not shown). The outer Serial No. 325,492.

sides of the side walls 6 have column guides or lugs 8 formed integrally therewith.

Each of the side bearing braces 1 which consist of gussets, has oppositely extending flanges 9 extending at right angles thereto along the bottom edge thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the said gusset is intersected by transverse ribs 9 formed on the bottom side of the member 1 and connected at their opposite ends to the side flanges of the said member.

The tension member 10 of the bolster preferably consists of rolled steel. At its center portion the tension member engages the bot tom of the strut or brace 23, being retained in engagement therewith by the flanges 10 formed on the sides of the said strut between which flanges the said member Near its outer end portions the tension member 10 engages the bottom edges and the flanges 9 of the braces 4.

Each of the outer end portions of the tension member 10 extends between the side walls 6 of the end column guide casting, the thickened end portion 11 thereof being riveted to the web of the compression member, as shown. The said thickened portion provides a shoulder 13 which abuts a similar shoulder 14.

formed on the compression member. The outer end of the tension member is further secured to the compression member by means of a casting 15 of channel shape in cross section which fits between the walls 6 of the end casting and isriveted thereto. The edges of the side walls 16 of the casting 15 are inclined upwardly and outwardly, as shown, as also is the top edge of the centrally disposed longitudinal rib 16*. The top edge of the latter and the top edges of the transverse webs 16 engage the under side of the outer end portion of the tension member as shown. The under side of the base 17 of the casting 15 constitutes a seat for the springs 18.

The top side of the outer end portions of the compression member 1 are provided with strengthening ribs 19 which extend longitudinally across the outer downwardly curved portions thereof, as shown.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a construction embodying the invention but modified so as to permit lengthwise motion of the bolster. In the said Fig. 6 the base of the casting 20 is provided with transversely extending recesses 21 in the bottom side thereof which are located opposite similar recesses 22 provided in the top side of the spring cap 23 the under side of which rests upon springs 24. Rollers 25 are located within the recesses 21 and These rollers not only permit lengthwise movement of the truck bolster but also transmit its weight as well as the Weight of the load carried thereby to the springs 24.

It now will be seen that I have provided a novel truck bolster which is efficient in use and which may be manufactured more eco nomically than those which have been devised heretofore.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A truck bolster comprising a compression member and end column guide castings connected integrally with each other, said compression member having projections upon its under side near its opposite ends forming outwardly facing shoulders and said end castings comprising spaced depending walls, a tension member the outer ends of which extend between the said walls and terminate inwardly of the outer ends of the said compression member and the outer ends of said tension member being thickened to provide inwardly facing shoulders upon their upper sides which engage the outwardly facing shoulders upon the under 'idc of said compression member, and castings located between the said walls and having side and intermediate portions in contact with the under sides of the opposite end portions of the said tension member.

2. A truck bolster comprising a compression member, a center plate strut, side hearing seats, side bearingseat braces, said braces including webs located in a vertical plane apn'oximating that of a plane including the longitudinally extending median line of the said compression member and the said webs having oppositely extending flanges at their lower edges, and end column guides, all of the said parts being integrally connected.

3. A truck bolster comprising a compression member the opposite end portions of which incline slightly downwardly from the central portion thereof to points near the opposite ends thereof and from the latter points incline upwardly forming depressions upon the upper sides thereof near their opposite ends, strengthening ribs located in the said depressions and extending longitudinally of the said bolster, projections ext-ending downwardly from the under side of the said con pression member, said projections being located at the inner ends of the upwardly extending portions at the opposite ends of the said compression member, the outer sides of said projections forming outwardly facing shoulders, a tension member the opposite ends of which are thickened to provide inwardly facing shoulders which contact with the said outwardly facing shoulders when the compression member and tension member are assembled, the upper sides of the thickened portions at the outer ends of the said tension member contacting with the under sides of the outer end portions of the upwardly extending portions at the opposite ends of the said compression member, and means for securing the opposite ends of said tension member to the opposite ends of the said compression member.

4. A truck bolster comprising a compres sion member the opposite end portions of which incline slightly downwardly from the central portion thereof to points near the opposite ends thereof and from the latter points incline u nvardly forming depressions upon the upper sides thereof near their opposite ends, strengthening ribs .located in the said depressions and extending longitudinally of the said bolster, projections extending downwardly from the under side of the said compression member, said projections being located at the inner ends of the upwardly extending portions at the opposite ends of the said compression member, the outer sides of said projections forming outwardly facing shoulders, the opposite end portions of said compression member having depending flanges at its opposite sides, a tension member the opposite ends of which are thickened to provide inwardly facing shoulders which engage with the said outwardly facing shoulders when the said compression and tension members are assembled, the opposite ends of the said tension member projecting between the said flanges at the opposite ends of the compression member and the upper sides of the thickened portions of the tension member at its opposite ends contacting with the under sides of the outer end portions of the upwardly extending portions at the opposite ends of the said tension member, members of trough shape in cross section located at the opposite ends of the bolster between the depending flanges of the compression member, said trough shaped members each having central webs which extend longitudinally thereof, the upper edges of said webs and of the opposite sides of the said members being inclined inwardly and contacting with the under sides of the opposite end portions of the said tension member, and means for securing the said trough shaped members to the said depending flanges.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 10 day of December, A. l). 1928.

MARK I-I. MARTIN. 

